Improvement in stirrup-loops



H. F. R. F. SOMERSET.

Stirrup-Loop.

No. 220,677. Patented Oct. 14,1879.

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FETUS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D G UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

HENRY F. R. F. SOMERSET, OF BADMINTON, COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER,

' ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUP-LOOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,677, dated October14, 1879; application filed September 3, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY FITZ ROY FRAN- OIs SOMERsET, of Badminton, inthe county of Gloucester, England, .ljave invented a new and ImprovedStirrup-Lo p, of which the following is a specification. i

My improvements relate to loops for connecting stirrup straps to thesaddles, and have for their object to provide forautomatic disconnectionof the strap in case of accident.

The invention consists in a stirrup-loop adapted for connection to thesaddle, and formed with two sides hinged or pivoted, and retained inposition by spring-pressure under ordinary circumstances, the hingedsides being held in such manner that theparts are released and the loopthrown open by the draft caused by the rider being thrown.

The construction and operation will be more particularly explained withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved stirrup-loop as in use. Fig. 2 is a sideview with the loop thrown open.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The loop A is adapted for the left-hand side of the saddle, and consistsof the rigid or main portion a, formed with a curved arm. b,

. by which it is to be hung or attached to the saddle, and fitted withthe hinged horizontal bottom bar, 0, and inclined end bar, cl.

' The horizontal bar 0, around which the stirrup-strap 0 passes, ishinged to the forward end of a by a gimbal-joint at g, which permitsmovement 'of bar 0 vertically and horizontally, the vertical movementbeing limited by a flange, a, on a. i

The end bar, d, is hung to the rear part of portion a by aknuckle-joint, the part a being slotted to receive bar cl, so that bar01 swings in a direction lengthwise of the loop.

In the normal position bar ol hangs with its lower end inclined outward,in which position it is retained by a bar-sprin g, ii, that is securedin a slot in portion a, and bears upon the upper-end of d.

The lower end of bar d is bent to form a spring-hook, cl, as shown, toreceive the end of the horizontal bar 0. The hook d prevents bar 0 fromswinging outward, and prevents bar 0 from swinging upward, except whenthere is sufficient force applied to spring the hook cl apart, the loopA, when closed, being thus substantially rigid, and the draft of strap0, under ordinary circumstances, is sustained by rigid connections.

In case the rider is thrown to the right side and the left foot becomesentangled with the stirrup, the draft of the stirrupstrap would beupward on bar 0, which would release 0 from the hook d, and the stirrupwould be released by the strap 0 slipping off.

If the rider be thrown to the left side, with the left foot entangled,the draft would then be backward on bar 0?, and the loop would be openedby bar el swinging outward. The righthand or off-side stirrup-loopwould, of course, operate in the same manner under similarcircumstances.

By the above described construction the stirrup is rendered perfectlyreliable in ordinary use, while securing safety from entanglement incase of accident.

The plate a, to which bar 0 is hinged, may be extended toward theforward portion of the saddle, so as to fit securely over thegulletplate, or plate forming the arch of the saddle, to which thestirrup loop is connected in use, and the sides of plate a will betapered, so as to lie flat and present a smooth surface under the leg ofthe rider.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the rigid anglebar a, of thebar 0, hinged to turn horizontally, and the hook-bar d, hinged to turnvertically, as shown and described.

2. In a stirrup-loop, the combination, with the main portion a and thehinged horizontal bar 0, of the pivoted end bar, (1, formed with thespring-hook d, and retained in its normal position by spring h,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY FITZ ROY FRANCIS SOMERSET.

Witnesses:

J. TRENFIELD,

Solicitor, Chipping, soolbury, England. JOHN D. B. TRENFIELD,

Solicitor, Chipping, Soclbury, England.

